. >> that said the president and speaker john boehner discussed the budget by phone yesterday. susan mcginnis is in washington with the latest on this game of fiscal chicken. susan, good morning to you. >> right. good morning, terrell. yeah, that phone call does raise the possibility that some serious talks could start soon, but now we learn that a lot of members of congress are heading out on a long weekend, not to return till tuesday. this as the impasse here on capitol hill continues and the nation waits. social security workers marched outside their office in baltimore wednesday. they're protesting the government spending cuts due to kick in at the end of the year as part of the fiscal cliff. >> we don't want to see our public hurt in any way. >> just down the road in washington, d.c., the standoff continues. house speaker john boehner says he's still waiting for president obama to make his next counteroffer to the republican plan he rejected. >> i'm going to need a response from the white house. we can't sit here and negotiate with ourselves. >> the president and boehner s